The Gator capped its most decorated year on record today, as the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) honored the newsroom with multiple top-five national Story of the Year awards and several additional honorable mentions—widely regarded as the student press equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizes.

“These accolades affirm my belief that Brimmer and May is home not only to one of the best student news sites in the nation, but also to one of the best independent schools,” Adviser David Cutler said.

In Digital Multimedia News Story of the Year, Managing Editor Mary Wang ’26 earned second place for Gym Construction Disrupts. Parking, Pick-Up, and Drop-Off. In Digital Multimedia Feature Story of the Year, Gabe Cohen ’26 and Tavio Mares-Van Praag ’27 placed fifth for Beyond The Buzzer: AJ Reeves ’18, and Wang received an honorable mention for Brooks Neufeld ’26: Sparking a School-Wide Push-Up Craze.

Andrew Flint ’26 earned fourth place in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Story of the Year for My Journey Through Stuttering. In Digital Multimedia Sports Story of the Year, Mares-Van Praag ’27 also earned third place for From Underdogs to Champions.

Last academic year, The Gator also made newsroom history with just 13 full-time staffers, earning both a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown in March and a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker later that spring—the highest national awards for overall newsroom excellence.

Widely regarded as the top honors in scholastic journalism, the twin awards marked the publication’s strongest year to date.

Only 12 schools nationwide received a Pacemaker, placing The Gator among the most decorated student news sites in the country.

“The skills these award-winners demonstrate didn’t develop in a vacuum,” Cutler said. “From critical thinking in humanities courses to work in math and science, to interviewing, design, and public speaking in our theater and arts programs, these awards send a clear message that Brimmer and May should be considered among the most prestigious private schools in New England. And these are just some of the receipts.”